San Fernando: Department of Health (DOH) Ilocos Region director Paula Paz Sydiongco has urged cancer patients to utilize the cancer assistance fund (CAF) offered by the national government.
According to Philippines News Agency, the CAF provides financial services not covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and those only partially covered by the Malasakit Program. Patients are required to submit necessary documents such as prescriptions, treatment protocols, and medical abstracts for evaluation and approval before accessing the services.
CAF is accessible at the Region 1 Medical Center, Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center in San Fernando, La Union, and at the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center in Batac, Ilocos Norte. This financial support mechanism is exclusively available to cancer patients, individuals living with cancer, and cancer survivors.
Sydiongco also encouraged patients to take advantage of the services offered at the newly opened R1MC Cancer Institute in Dagupan City. She emphasized the importance of visiting the facility to benefit from its services.
On May 23, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. inaugurated the R1MC Cancer Institute. The facility boasts state-of-the-art cancer diagnostic and treatment equipment, including a 128 CT scan, 1.5 Tesla MRI, linear accelerator, brachytherapy, chemotherapy, radiology, and palliative care.
The R1MC Cancer Institute currently serves at least 18 cancer patients daily, offering screening, consultation, and treatment services. With cancer being the second leading cause of mortality in the region, the facility is expected to accommodate more patients suffering from various types of cancer, including lung, breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer.
In addition to its comprehensive cancer care services, the facility also offers pediatric oncology and hematology, medical and radiation oncology, gynecology and surgical oncology, targeted therapy, and blood transfusion. Since its dry-run in 2023, the R1MC Cancer Institute has already served 59,643 cancer patients.
